Deja dropped her fork as Emmett rushed out of the room with Austin toward the kitchen. Terror started to bubble up through her veins as she thought of the last time Sophie was injured. The blood, the bruises that covered her body almost made her sick to her stomach. She never had the urge to kill someone before. But that day, she had wanted to rip Kevin to pieces for laying one hand on her.
“She can’t be missing just like that, can she?”
Deja forced herself to look at Dare, who looked confused by everything. “Kevin…he’s a dangerous man. I wouldn’t put it past him to try and hurt Sophie again.”
“Who’s Kevin?”
The front door swung open before Deja could respond. Sophie walked in, her face covered in fright, her entire body shaking as she walked unsteadily.
“Sophie, what happened?” Deja rushed to her side, grabbing her around the waist and headed for the couch. “Austin, Sophie’s in here!”
Dare stood up from the table and slowly walked toward the living room as Austin and Emmett ran back into the room.
Austin pulled Sophie into his arms and held her tightly. Deja stepped back and took a spot next to Emmett. Dare still stood off to the side, observing everything.
“What happened? Is that bastard outside? Did he hurt you?” Austin pulled her slightly away, cupping her cheeks gently. “I’ll kill him. I will never let him hurt you again.”
“Austin…” Emmett said lightly, warning him to watch his words.
Deja agreed with Austin. She’d be more than happy to get rid of Kevin.
Sophie grabbed his hands. “It’s not him. I let Axel outside, because he started to claw at the door so furiously. You know he always goes quickly, then comes right back. He didn’t come back. I called his name, and he just didn’t come back. I can’t find him.” A tear slid down her cheek.
Deja found it hard to believe that Axel would run away. He was attached to Sophie at the hip. He followed her everywhere. He wouldn’t run away.
“That’s why the door was wide open? You went outside looking for Axel?” Austin intertwined their fingers together as they dropped their hands to the side.
Sophie nodded, obviously upset that Axel ran away.
“We’ll go look for him. We’ll find him, Soph. Don’t worry.” Emmett smiled.
Deja knew he was reassuring Sophie as best as he could. That smile of his managed to reassure her a little. Or maybe she just loved when he smiled. She had been surprised to see him when they walked into the kitchen. Her surprise turned into happiness, then immediately into anxiety. No matter how much she wanted and liked Emmett, she was all wrong for him.
“What Emmett said. We’ll all search for him.” Austin looked at Emmett. “You, Sophie, and I will search the backyard.” Austin turned toward her. “Can you and Dare search the front?”
“Of course.” Deja glanced at her brother, who merely nodded.
Austin, Emmett, and Sophie walked out of the room toward the kitchen. Dare met Deja by the front door and stepped outside. They hollered for Axel a few times, then started to walk down the sidewalk.
“So, who’s this Kevin guy?”
Deja kept her eyes peeled for any white blur of fluffiness, although, grabbing a flashlight would’ve been helpful. The night made it difficult to see, especially in the dark corners of houses, trees, and behind cars.
Dare nudged her. “Ignoring me? I’m not good enough to know what’s going on.”
Deja halted, shocked. He actually thought that. There was no teasing tone in his voice. “Of course you’re good enough. I’m just worried about Sophie. She’s had it rough. Axel means everything to her.”
Dare’s eyes glowed a brilliant blue in the night air. They sparkled with a tortured pain, something she saw all the time when she looked in the mirror. They truly did have the same eyes.
“Kevin is her ex-boyfriend. He was abusive. Sophie fled from New York and got as far away from him as she could. She met Austin and they fell in love.”
Deja started to walk again, hoping against hope that Axel didn’t run away. Or worse. That Kevin hid in the shadows and nabbed Axel as soon as he could. Seemed something devious that asshole would do.
“That’s clearly not the end of the story.”
Deja tossed her hair behind her ear as a light breeze tried to blow it in her face. “It’s my fault she got hurt.”
Dare grabbed her arm and forced her to look at him. “I doubt that.”
“You’ve been away ten years. What do you know?”
The pressure on her arm went from light to intense, but not enough to hurt her. All she felt was his pain. “I know my sister. Inside and out. Ten years doesn’t change that. Whatever happened, it wasn’t your fault. So tell me what did happen?”
“Do you honestly care?”
Dare dropped her arm and whipped around. “Damn it, Deja. I care. Why do you think I want to leave? Because I care. You’re better off without me in your life.”
She touched his shoulder, his entire body taut with tension. “I’m better with you in my life.”
He refused to speak or to release the tension that had him coiled tighter than a boa constrictor on a mission.
“I needed a new job. Emmett offered me one and I turned him down. I should’ve taken it. Nothing would’ve happened if I had taken the job. Instead, that day, I left to fill out an application.” Her hand dropped, her insides turning to mush as the horror of that day crushed her to pieces. “Kevin showed up and beat her so badly…if I had only…it’s my—”
Dare turned around and shoved her into his embrace, hugging her fiercely. A big bear hug. Just like old times. “Shut up, Deja. Don’t say shit like that again. A man beating a woman is not your fault. He probably watched and waited for the perfect opportunity. I don’t need to know the man to know that for a fact.”
She buried her face into his chest, breathing in the safety, the feeling of home. She had missed her brother so much.
“I can’t believe anyone would harm such a beautiful woman. She seems so nice.”
“Sophie’s the best. The sweetest woman in the world.”
“Is he sitting in jail waiting for trial?”
Deja shook her head no. Dare let her go, rubbing his hands up and down her arms to halt the chill that passed through her body. How had he known she needed that? Simple. Her brother knew her that well.
“He has a lot of money. He barely sat in jail before they released him on bail. The one stipulation the judge gave him was he had to stay in Minnesota until the trial. Sophie’s been on edge since then. She hides it well, though. He could honestly get off with just a slap on the wrist, no jail time whatsoever. As long as he runs back to New York, I say, good riddance.”
Dare’s mouth slowly tipped up into an evil grin. “Well, if he sees the inside of a jail cell, I’ll be sure to let my friends know to give him a warm welcoming.”
“Dare…” She bit her lip, knowing exactly what he meant. “Just how would you let your friends know? I don’t want you going back there for any reason.”
He threw his arm around her shoulder and started to walk back toward the house. “I have my ways, D. Don’t you worry about a thing. I don’t know Sophie well, but what I do know, no man gets away with harming a woman like that. And she’s your best friend. Enough said.”
Deja couldn’t help but smile. “She is my best friend.”
“There you go then.”
As soon as they walked back into the house, Dare’s smile fled. It instantly made her sad. For a moment there, they almost acted like old times, like brother and sister. Now his wall was firmly back in place. Would she ever get her brother back?
They found Emmett, Austin, and Sophie in the kitchen. Deja took a seat next to Sophie at the small table. “Any sign of him?”
Sophie timidly shook her head no, wiping a tear away. “He wouldn’t run away.”
“We’ll find him. I swear we will.” Austin said it with such conviction that Deja didn’t doubt him for a second. The small grin on Sophie’s face said as much as well.
The front door opened and slammed just as quickly. Zane’s voice with the little pitter-patter of feet echoed to the kitchen. Axel came running through the kitchen, jumping into Sophie’s lap before she could even stand up.
“Oh, Axel, baby, I was so worried. Please tell me you didn’t go to the farm. You can’t do that, boy.” Sophie hugged him tightly.
“I have a feeling that’s exactly where he was headed. Nearly hit the little guy halfway here. He has a crazy six sense,” Zane said as he walked into the kitchen, holding a baby car seat.
“Everything okay?” Austin’s frown became worse as he eyed his brother.
“I wish. I need you on the farm, there’s a fire.” Zane set the car seat to the floor, rubbing his hand over his face.
Silence descended in the house. Emmett was the first to find his voice. “Anyone hurt? Where’s Ava? Eleanor?”
“Eleanor left for the weekend to visit her family up north. Ava’s being Ava, already jumping into the fray to do her job no matter how many times I yelled at her.” Zane seemed to age right in front of them. The worry lines increased as his frown became deeper. “Some idiot was driving drunk with his girlfriend in the passenger seat. He had a bottle of moonshine and she grabbed it from him and started to pour it out of the window. He ran through our fence onto our field and crashed near the corral. Don’t know how it happened, but a fire started, lighting up the path she created with the moonshine. It’s damn close to the white barn. We can’t lose all of our stock, Austin. We won’t be able to afford…I couldn’t find my damn phone…Jimmy…”
Emmett stood closest to Zane. He clapped him on the shoulder. “Is the fire out yet? We’re here to help. Jimmy’s fine.”
“Ava called the chief of police wanting the fire chief there ASAP.” Zane laughed. It came out with a strangle. “Why does my wife have to be in the middle of everything?”
Austin chuckled as he lightly squeezed Sophie’s shoulders. “Because she wouldn’t be the Ava we love. You didn’t answer Emmett. How bad is the fire?”
“It wasn’t too bad when I left. I guess we should be thankful the ground’s still wet from winter somewhat. It shouldn’t hit the barn. Regardless, they wouldn’t let me in there to get the pigs out just in case. Ethan had to restrain me a bit. Anyone else and I probably would’ve decked them.” Zane bent down and unbuckled the tiny baby sitting so peacefully in the car seat. “I need you at the farm, Austin. You, too, Emmett. That fence needs to be fixed right away as soon as it’s safe. We can’t have all the cows getting loose.”
Zane stood up, cradling the baby perfectly in his arms. “Will you watch little Jimmy, Sophie? I forgot the damn diaper bag, but he’s not due to eat for another hour at least.”
Sophie nodded and gently set Axel on the ground. She stood up and took Jimmy from Zane. “You know we have diapers, formula, and whatever else he needs here. I’d love to watch him. Thank you for bringing Axel back. I had a mini meltdown there.”
Sophie had gotten used to everyone in the McCord family. Comfortable with all the men. When Zane pulled her closer for a small hug, not one hesitation or shiver occurred. Deja sat close enough to them that she heard him whisper, “Sorry for swearing.”
“Let’s go.” Austin kissed Sophie quickly on the lips and walked out of the kitchen. Sophie followed. Deja figured she wanted one more kiss, a little more thorough than the chaste one displayed in front of them.
Zane started to follow when he noticed Dare on the opposite side of the kitchen near the back door. “You must be Dare, Deja’s brother. We could use all the help we can. Let’s go.”
Deja had to stifle a laugh that wanted to burst out at Dare’s shocked expression. Not much took him by surprise. Zane wasn’t one to hold back on his words or actions. If he thought something, he said it. If he wanted something done, he did it. He rarely asked. He just expected people to listen.
“Not sure I’d be useful. I don’t know anything about fixing a fence. You don’t want me there.” Dare almost looked like he was ready to bolt out the kitchen door.
Zane’s stance became rigid. “I would’ve never said it if I didn’t mean it.” He glanced at Deja, then back to Dare. “Deja’s practically part of the family. You’re her brother, which, in turn, makes you part of the family. Family always helps out. So let’s go. We could use your help.”
Deja wasn’t sure who was more shocked, her, Dare, or Emmett, who stood silently in the kitchen. Tears suddenly wanted to fall down in crashing waves at the words Zane just spoke, but she held them back. She’d fall apart later, alone, in her room. She’d sort out the heavy emotions he just unleashed. Part of the family? She had no idea he thought that.
Zane nodded, as if his words wouldn’t be disobeyed, and walked out of the kitchen. Emmett turned to Dare. “You can ride with me.” Then he disappeared as well.
“They’re quite a family, the McCords.” Dare said it quietly. Whether out of awe or fear they would hear him, she wasn’t sure.
“Best house I ever broke into.” Deja couldn’t help but grin. Because it was seriously the best house she could’ve ever picked. She now had food, a roof over her head, a best friend, and a family that accepted her as one of their own.
Dare gave a small snort, almost like he chuckled, and pointed a finger at her as he started to walk past her. “You ever try breaking into another house and we’re gonna have issues.”
“I have no need to anymore.” She swatted his finger away playfully. “Acting like a big brother. Careful, I might get used to it.”
He ruffled the top of her head like he did in the old days and smiled. “Shit, me, too.” His smile dipped. “It’d be better if I left.”
“No, Dare, it’d be better if you started to let me in.” She tossed her head toward the living room. “You should go. Zane’s not the most patient man.”
“Damn McCords. Strangest, nicest bunch of people I’ve ever met.”
“Damn right. They’re the best.” Deja watched him walk out. She meant every word she said. She was far from the best. Far from perfect. Which is exactly why Emmett would always be unattainable.